Chapter 321 The End of Endurance

Facts have proved that there are too many people who take risks.

Most of these people who beg for food on the sea are desperate criminals. The risks brought by the great voyage are not something that everyone can bear.

Such desperate criminals would rather sacrifice their lives than their wealth, and it is not false.

The White Sand Islands were roaring with gunfire for a while, and the frequency of gunfire increased several times compared with before the Principality Fleet entered.

This is very American.

Maintaining peace, the result is more gunfire.

Pirates who rob and rob are not as many as those who died in maintaining peace.

For two weeks in a row, floating wood and survivors who escaped by chance could be seen on the sea from time to time.

The berths outside the White Sand Islands were all filled with spoils of war, and sailboats were towed over one after another.

The fate of those who dared to resist was that the goods were confiscated and the sailboats were sold directly on the spot.

A large number of merchants from the Northern Principality waved gold coins and directly bought sailboats that were several times cheaper.

Although steamships have begun to encroach on the living space of sailing ships, short-distance transport sailing ships can still survive, especially when the price is cheap.

For this reason, the Governor had to expand the port.

The number of local laborers was not enough, so they directly purchased the goods of the slave trade team at a premium.

Thirty or forty gold coins per black slave, anyway, they were all confiscated property, no one cared.

So the White Sand Port was rapidly expanded, and the spoils collected were even enough to order another Warrior-class ship.

"Maritime trade is really profitable." Adrian counted the income in the past month, and the amount has exceeded one million. Although most of it was spoils, the tax revenue was nearly 200,000 gold coins.

However, he also realized the danger. As the saying goes, people die for money and birds die for food. After losing so many gold coins, can those merchants and nobles let it go?

Just think about it and you will know that it is impossible.

Although he originally planned to lure some people to take action, with such a huge benefit in front, he could not protect himself from being overturned in the gutter.

"Send a reconnaissance ship to inquire around, don't be tricked by others." Adrian ordered.

In fact, at this time, on a deserted island, more than a dozen ships were anchored in the open sea.

Then one by one, small boats were lowered and headed to the island.

This is an uninhabited island on the outermost edge of the White Sand Islands. The entire island is full of various strange rocks and is completely unsuitable for survival.

However, as a temporary gathering point, it is enough.

As people dressed in different clothes came to the island, the deserted island ushered in the long-lost bustle.

These people are of complex composition, including nobles in gorgeous clothes, luxurious businessmen, and big pirates with skull decorations.

In the past, these people would never get together.

Thanks to the charm of the ocean and the charm of money, everyone finally put down their class contradictions and sat together.

Among them, the big pirate looked around and found that it was time and no new ships arrived. He couldn't sit still and asked: "Just these people? Can they beat those barbarians?"

"How can such a thing be widely publicized? If a bunch of people are really invited, now there is an ironclad ship of the Northern Principality outside." The man dressed like an aristocrat said disdainfully. He looked down on these lowly guys in his bones.

"Want to fight?" The big pirate didn't tolerate him at all.

"Okay, okay, we are all seeking wealth, why hurt the harmony." Others hurriedly persuaded him. The Northern Principality Fleet has not been resolved yet, so they can't fight first.

In the tense atmosphere, a group of people began to talk about the losses in the past month.

Whether it is a noble, a merchant or a pirate, the Northern Principality Fleet treats everyone equally and pays taxes.

Those who pay taxes are fine, otherwise they will be sunk.

"The Northern Principality is too domineering. This waterway is not theirs. Why should they collect taxes?"

"Maintaining a fart order, I robbed for ten years, but they robbed less than they did in one month."

"The property of the nobles should be protected, they are unreasonable."

Everyone was full of grievances, and their demands were the same.

In front of money, even the father has to stand aside.

Soon, they reached a consensus: "Fight, we must fight, the ironclad ship is powerful, and it must be sunk."

Fight, this is the premise of this gathering.

But when it comes to the specific dispatch of troops, it immediately freezes again.

"Our noble alliance can provide 30 warships."

"We will provide 50."

"We will provide 20."

Each family can provide dozens of warships, but it sounds like a lot, but in fact they are all wooden warships with a density of about 100 meters, and there are not many with a density of 300 to 500 meters.

Several noble representatives have spoken up, and the merchants also support it, only the pirates hesitated.

"What do you mean, are you ready to compromise with the barbarians?"

The noble representatives' eyes flashed with fierceness. Don't look at their noble demeanor, they are no less ruthless than these pirates.

"Damn, compromise is a fart, it's easy to fight, where can we replenish the warships we lost?"

The pirates also have their own concerns. Their assets are accumulated bit by bit, and most of them are transformed from robbed merchant ships. There is no stable replenishment channel. Let them fight, it's okay, but what to do after that?

Don't think that pirates are lions on the sea, they are at most hyenas.

Bullying the weak and fearing the strong is the norm, and once the hunting is difficult, they will even take the initiative to retreat.

The nobles naturally despised this, and the untouchables on the sea were untouchables.

But this battle needed more help.

"This is easy. In the next year, the shipyards we control can allocate a part of the quota to you. Not to mention the battleships, we can also sell you the latest iron-ribbed battleships."

The steamships of the Northern Principality have been launched for two or three years. This is no longer a secret.

Other countries certainly can't just sit there and watch.

The steam ironclad ships don't have the technical strength, but wooden battleships can be covered with a layer of iron armor.

This kind of battleship with iron armor laid in key parts is called the iron-ribbed battleship by them.

Although it is not as good as the ironclad ship, it is also an upgraded and strengthened one.

The temptation of this promise is not small.

A few big pirates discussed and they can do it.

But...

"How can we trust you?"

"You place normal commercial orders. We can't ruin our reputation for a few ships."

Indeed, the reputation of this era is still very important.

Some things can be done privately, but they can't be put on the surface.

And the pirates think they are not lambs to be slaughtered. If the other party dares to breach the contract, the cost will not be low.

"Okay, let's do it. Let's gather a hundred warships."

After seven or eight forces discussed, they were able to gather a total of 200 ships, with a total depth of more than 23,000.

This was an unprecedented naval battle, and they were confident even when facing ironclad ships.